The scale of the task now facing Solskjaer was laid bare by Sunday’s 1-1 draw at already relegated Huddersfield, statistically one of the worst sides ever to play in the Premier League, that ensured United cannot finish in the top four and must accept the consolation prize of a place in the Europa League.

“When United needed their players to stand up and be counted, playing with intensity, taking responsibility individually, concentrating fully, fighting for the right to play in the Champions League, they froze,” wrote The Times.

The French football Federation (FFF) said they had also opened disciplinary proceedings against Mbappe’s teammate Neymar for striking a Rennes fan following the shock defeat on penalties after extra time.

Having already missed one game, Mbappe will miss Saturday’s match against Nice and the trip to Angers the following week but will be available for the last two games of the season. Place bet on NaijaBet

Liverpool can return to the top of the table if they beat Newcastle United on Saturday but will only be in pole position to clinch the league title on May 12 if Rodgers’ Leicester can claim a point or better at the Etihad Stadium.

Lionel Messi has failed to score or assist in two previous encounters with Liverpool but the Argentine has 44 goals and 16 assists across league and European competition this season. Place bet on Live Match 24/7

The South American duo will be ready to face Liverpool together for the first time in Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at the Nou Camp, aiming to help Barca reach the final for the first time in four years.

Liverpool took years to recover from him leaving for Barca in 2014 for a club record 75 million pounds, finishing sixth and eighth respectively in their next two seasons until Jurgen Klopp transformed their fortunes.

Ajax come into this tie on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run, with the only blip on the record in that time coming in a 1-1 draw with Juventus. The Dutch powerhouse have lost only one of their last 15 matches and come into this clash in London on a four-match away winning run.

Aguero has managed 230 goals in eight years with City, making him far and away the club’s all-time top scorer, and the 30-year-old Argentina striker has played a key role in the three league titles they have won during that period.

“He is a legend; he does that all the time, score important goals for us,” Guardiola said. “He is an incredible player.” Place bet on Live Matches 24/7

Adri Embarba scored the only goal by converting a penalty midway through the first half and Madrid, aside from an effort by Mariano that was correctly ruled out for offside, rarely looked like equalising.

“Sometimes you are not able to score but today we didn’t even create chances, we did nothing well. We have to all be angry with our performance. I am angry because we gave an awful image of ourselves.” Start forecasting your Champions League games Now

Zola told reporters at the time that Sarri had sought to get his players out of the scuffle but the referee had “misinterpreted” his intentions and that the Chelsea manager had been offended by a comment from the Burnley bench.

Ander Herrera has missed United’s last five matches but has returned to training and could be thrust into the starting XI in midweek.

Alexis Sanchez is also back from injury and could make his first start for United since the beginning of March. Juan Mata or Jesse Lingard should also come into the frame here. Place bet on Live Matches 24/7 on NaijaBet

“Timing for him and the club and agreeing something are maybe different to other players. I hope he will be here in the future. Christian and us are so close and it’s not long until the end of the season.

Guardiola could be seen gesturing for handball while the VAR check was made, but his protest was in vain.

Adding to the City manager’s frustration, Raheem Sterling appeared to have scored what would have been the winner in the final seconds of stoppage-time, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for offside against Sergio Aguero. Place bet on Live events on NaijaBet24/7

“I support VAR but maybe from one angle Fernando Llorente’s goal is handball, maybe from the referee’s angle it is not,” Guardiola said.

Conversely, Tottenham have lost six of their last seven away matches, with their only win in that run coming at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Spurs, to their credit, have won five of their last six Champions League matches, but have their work cut out if they are to secure a semi-final spot.

Manchester City- Pep Guardiola is without only Claudio Bravo for Wednesday’s welcome of Tottenham, with the Chilean goalkeeper still struggling for match fitness, though he wasn’t expected to start anyway, while Fernandinho will be assessed.

The Manchester City boss is expected to make a couple of changes from the first leg loss in north London for this must-win match. Live Bet on NaijaBet

Oleksandr Zinchenko is available following injury and could come in for Fabian Delph at left-back, while Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus are expected to start.

Manchester United have gone completely off the boil in recent weeks and were fortunate to beat West Ham on Saturday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have lost their last three away matches in all competitions.